Euro
ECB's Garganas sees no need for rate rise
The European Central Bank sees no need to raise eurozone interest rates if area-wide inflation slows to less than 2.0 percent next year, governing council member and Greek central bank chief Nicholas Garganas said in a newspaper interview.
ECB's Trichet on the euro area economy
In the speech 'The euro area economy: determinants of growth, competitiveness and the need for structural reforms' given on 10 October Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said euro zone growth may fall below 2 pct in the period up to 2010 and below 1.5 pct by…
Hungary's Jarai warns deficit moving wrong way
Hungarian central bank governor Zsigmond Jarai warned in an interview on Monday 10 October that the country's budget deficit is moving in the wrong direction for euro membership.
Trichet says vigilance needed on inflation risks
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said on Friday 7 October that the threat of inflation in the eurozone should be watched carefully due mainly to high property prices.
Almunia sees better eurozone growth by year end
European Union Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia spoke on Thursday 6 October of his confidence that the eurozone will return better growth figures by the end of the year, than had been recorded recently.
Walk, don't run, to the eurozone
This article asks why the Czech Republic is in such a hurry to join the euro? After all, Britain's GDP is growing significantly faster than overall levels in the eurozone, it says.
Venezuela transfers $20 bn reserves to BIS
Venezuela has transferred $20 billion worth of its reserves to the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland, Venezuela's central bank director Domingo Maza Zavala was quoted as saying, confirming comments by President Hugo Chavez last week.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on euro payments area
European Central Bank executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said foreign banks will take the leading role in restructuring the European banking sector if domestic banks move too slowly to create a single eurozone payments area.
ECB's Papademos on growth in euro area economies
In the speech 'Growth and competitiveness in euro area economies' given on 22 September Lucas Papademos of the ECB said growth in Germany and Italy has lagged behind the rest of the euro zone in recent years because of specific structural problems in the…
UK's Clarke sees euro off the agenda
Kenneth Clarke, a contender for the Conservative party leadership, reiterated that the euro was off the British political map for the next ten years on BBC Radio's "Today" programme on Wednesday morning, 28 September, as he had first told Central Banking…
Belgium's Quaden says rates not hampering growth
The Belgian National Bank governor said in an interview that the European Central Bank's interest rates remain appropriate.
ECB's Papademos on the new EU Member States
In a speech given on 19 September Lucas Papademos of the ECB said that the ECB so far sees no sign that costly energy is pushing up wages and prices broadly throughout the eurozone economy.
Jarai says euro target date 'hopeless' for Hungary
Hungary's "macroeconomic developments do not appear to be improving, especially in terms of the public sector", Hungary's central bank Governor Zsigmond Jarai told a press conference on Monday 19 September.
Central Europe: What's delaying the euro
Momentum in Central Europe to adopt the euro as soon as possible has diminished, this article reports. The big obstacle, it says, is budget deficits.
China's forex regime poses fresh puzzle
An article published on Tuesday 13 September says China's new rules for its currency regime could mean the country may be forced to battle the nearly $2 trillion-a-day global forex market to try to control the dollar, euro and yen exchange rates.
Poland may hold euro referendum
Poland may hold a referendum on when to adopt the euro if the country's expected next ruling coalition cannot agree on a timetable, top presidential candidate Donald Tusk said on Thursday 15 September.
Estonian central bank chief positive on 2007 euro
According to Estonia's central bank chief Andres Lipstok, the country is on track to reduce inflation in time to join the euro on 1 January 2007, though rising oil prices require vigilance.
Malta holds foreign reserve management workshop
The Central Bank of Malta has hosted a two-day workshop in conjunction with the European Central Bank on the implications of euro area membership for foreign reserve management by national central banks.
Czechs drop 2009 as possible euro entry date
The Czech Republic is dropping 2009 as a possible date for entry to the euro, instead pencilling in 2010 as the preferred date.
Challenges for central banks in an enlarged EMU
A new book analyses the challenges that lie in front of the EU as it used to be, the hurdles that have to be cleared by possible candidates, and the impact of these developments on important economic sectors like the financial markets.
Time for the ECB to intervene
Charles Goodhart makes the case for Europe’s central bank to sell the euro.
Review of Monetary policy Transmission in the Euro Area
The ECB is piecing together how monetary policy affects the eurozone economy. A review by Paul Brione of Central Banking.